Bid to ban pipes put on hold

A Jackson County police chief has put on hold his bid to ban the sale of glass pipes he believes people use to smoke crack.

But Arcade police Chief Dennis Bell expects the legislation will be introduced and will see a vote next year.

Bell wants state lawmakers to outlaw pipes that some call a novelty item but he contends are nothing more than drug paraphernalia. Among the pipes he wants banned is a 3-inch-long glass pipe with a fake rose inside - known by some as "The Rose" - that many convenience stores sell.

"There's no way we can get it done this year," Bell said of the legislation.

"I wanted to get it done this year," said Bell, adding that he ran out of time to have the legislation introduced. "If you rush things, you mess up. If you mess it up, it may never go through."

State Rep. Tommy Benton, R-Jefferson, a potential sponsor of the bill, is amenable to the postponement.

"I'm following his lead on that," Benton said Monday.

Variants of the pipe can be used to smoke different narcotics.

A straight pipe might be used for crack cocaine, while a similar pipe with a bowl on the end could be used to smoke methamphetamine.

Possessing one of the suspect pipes isn't illegal, unless drugs were smoked in the pipe and left residue behind, police say. But, officers admit they are suspicious if they find "The Rose" on someone.

Bell, who wants the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police to stand behind his proposed legislation, said he expects to see some opposition to the bill, but he hopes it isn't from state lawmakers.

"I think it's going to face some opposition from marketers and retailers," Bell said. "It may even face some opposition from the politicians. You don't ever know."